UC football strives to revive once-mighty air game

Devin Gray (21) is the top returning receiver for the University of Cincinnati football team. UC is trying to revive its passing game, which slipped dramatically in 2016.(Photo: The Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar)

WEST HARRISON, Ind. - The formerly potent University of Cincinnati football passing game was a shell of its former self in 2016, when a 4-8 season record included an overall anemic offensive showing.

UC on Friday finished the Camp Higher Ground portion of preseason workouts here, where objectives included the reboot of a passing attack that fell from No. 6 nationally in 2015 (359.9 yards per game) to No. 44 last year (255.9 ypg).

"We’ve got a good group," said Joker Phillips, UC's new wide receivers coach. "Kahlil Lewis has improved so much since spring. Devin Gray was injured (ankle) but started off fast, and now he's back. We’re really excited about Thomas Geddis and JJ Pinckney. Rashad Medaris has done some good things. We’ll be able to put three guys out there that make plays for us."

Gray, now a senior, was among the few productive pass catchers last year. Gray led UC with 58 catches and 860 yards receiving (14.8 average), and he tied now-junior Lewis (48, 605, 12.6) for the team lead with five touchdown catches.

The 2016 passing game was hurt by several factors. After three years of video-game numbers under offensive coordinator Eddie Gran, Gran left to coordinate the University of Kentucky offense.

Then-coach Tommy Tuberville hired former Miami Dolphins interim offensive coordinator Zac Taylor to replace Gran, but things never really meshed. That included a revolving door at quarterback, where Hayden Moore, Ross Trail and now-departed Gunner Kiel all made multiple starts.

The running game was even worse. The Bearcats tied for last nationally in rushing touchdowns (8), and dropped from No. 57 nationally in 2015 in yardage (177.9 ypg ) to No. 117 last year (118.2). Add it up, and UC ranked a woeful 123rd nationally in scoring (19.3 per game).

Fickell's all-new UC staff includes offensive coordinator/QBs coach Mike Denbrock (most recently at Notre Dame), Phillips (former Kentucky head coach and a former NFL wideout) and former UC standout quarterback Gino Guidugli (running backs). Guidugli had just been named Central Michigan offensive coordinator when he changed his mind, and opted to return to UC.

Other new offensive coaches include line coach Ron Crook (most recently at West Virginia) and special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Doug Phillips (most recently at Iowa State).

That's a lot of new, but in terms of skill players, the faces mostly are familiar.

UC junior Moore and sophomore Trail continue to duel for the quarterback job. Senior Mike Boone returns from a foot injury as the No. 1 running back. The receiving corps returns nearly intact, led by Gray.

"I would say there's a lot more balance," Gray said. "We're obviously going to run the ball, but passing-wise, we're spreading out. We're hitting inside, we're hitting outside. We've got motion, stacks. We're deep at the receiver position, so everybody's going to get a chance to produce for us."

A name to watch is Ja'Quay Savage, a graduate transfer and former University of Louisville player. Savage is an imposing 6-foot-3 and 229 pounds, but the jury is out on what he might produce. Savage has 16 career collegiate receptions, and he also just joined the team last week.

"We don’t know a ton about him," Fickell said. "We know he’s a big kid. We know he’s got a passion. He wants to play this game. He knows he’s got a ways to go with getting himself back into shape, and learning a system and finding a way to get in here."

ADIOS: Friday concluded the 2017 portion of Higher Ground practices. The Bearcats annually make a two-week preseason stay at Higher Ground, approximately 30 miles northwest of UC's Clifton campus.

"This is definitely a benefit to us," Fickell said. "We couldn't get all this work done, I believe, on campus. To get away and kind of eliminate a lot of the noise and the things that are around, it has got to be a real benefit."

ANOTHER SCRIMMAGE: UC will conduct its second preseason scrimmage Saturday at 2 p.m. at Nippert Stadium (closed to the public). The practice will be on a reduced scale from last Saturday's scrimmage.

"It's not going to be as live," Fickell said. "It'll still be situational stuff. We'll probably do a bit more special teams, making sure guys understand the importance of that."